The Valet (La Doublure) [DVD]

Product Description

When paparazzi catch him with his supermodel mistress, billionaire CEO Pierre (Daniel Auteuil, Caché) devises a plan to convince his wife that the beautiful mystery woman is actually dating lovelorn valet François. Now François is the envy of every regular guy – he’s got a supermodel on his arm and in his bed. But Pierre’s clever wife Christine (Kristin Scott Thomas, The English Patient) cooks up a plan of her own with some hilarious, jaw-dropping surprises. An outstanding cast shines in this hilarious farce written and directed by master of comedy Francis Veber (The Closet, The Dinner Game).

Amazon.com

A light, zippy farce from Francis Veber (writer/director of The Closet and The Dinner Game), The Valet is another masterful comic escalation of lies and pretenses. When a billionaire (Daniel Auteuil, Cache, The Eighth Day) gets photographed next to his supermodel mistress (Alice Taglioni), he tries to persuade his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas, The English Patient) that the supermodel must be with the other man in the picture–a parking valet (Gad Elmaleh) who just happens to be walking by. Naturally, the billionaire has to follow through by setting the valet and the supermodel up as a couple, lest his wife’s detective uncover the truth. The valet agrees, but not because he wants to cozy up to the beautiful girl; he hopes that the money he’ll be paid will win the heart of the bookstore owner he’s in love with (Virginie Ledoyen, The Beach, 8 Femmes). The sneaky machinations of the characters multiply and cascade with delicious results, particularly the hapless envy of the valet’s best friend (Dany Boon, My Best Friend). The Valet isn’t quite as brilliantly orchestrated as The Closet (some of the plot threads feel underbaked), but it’s still sly and wonderfully engaging. Don’t judge Veber by the hamfisted Hollywood remakes of his films Les Comperes and Le Jouet; Veber’s films have a deft sweetness that American filmmakers just can’t recreate. –Bret Fetzer